Should I withdraw? PLEASE HELP!

[llabesab16]

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Hello, I am a junior chem major at Duke University, and I am very concerned about a bio class i am taking. I am making a C-/D+ in genetics and molecular biology. I have a midterm and the final to go, but I don't think I will have my second midterm grade back before the withdraw deadline. This class has frustrated me so so much, and I don't understand why I am not doing well. My gpa as of now is a 3.84, and my science gpa is 3.71. The lowest grade I have made so far in college is a B+ (I have made two B+s: one in physics and one in calc). I read on some medschool website that if you make a D in a science class, then you should reconsider your desire to become a doctor. This semester has been so hard for me because I feel like one class may change the course of my life, and I just need some help deciding what to do. Should I withdraw from this course??

ps. I have finished all of my chem, physics, and math reqs for premed. This is my first bio class

 

[osumc2014]

Hello, I am a junior chem major at Duke University, and I am very concerned about a bio class i am taking. I am making a C-/D+ in genetics and molecular biology. I have a midterm and the final to go, but I don't think I will have my second midterm grade back before the withdraw deadline. This class has frustrated me so so much, and I don't understand why I am not doing well. My gpa as of now is a 3.84, and my science gpa is 3.71. The lowest grade I have made so far in college is a B+ (I have made two B+s: one in physics and one in calc). I read on some medschool website that if you make a D in a science class, then you should reconsider your desire to become a doctor. This semester has been so hard for me because I feel like one class may change the course of my life, and I just need some help deciding what to do. Should I withdraw from this course??

ps. I have finished all of my chem, physics, and math reqs for premed. This is my first bio class

First, study extra hard to make the grade, get it to a B/B+ and you re fine. If you really think that you can't do that, then go ahead and get a W. One is not a huge deal and you don't want a D destroying your GPA. Best of luck

 

[sindadel]

1. One D will not destroy your chance at med school.
2. One W will not destroy your chance at med school.

I'd probably prefer the W, myself, but I think the most important factor is WHY you are doing so poorly. Are you going to office hours? Availing yourself of tutoring? Talking to friends in the class about how they are preparing? etc. etc.

 

[ziggydoc]

I don't know why you are taking those as your first bio class, but honestly bio is the easiest of the sciences in my opinion, you seem to do well in your other science classes, so is it that you just don't like to memorize things? Cuz thats what most of bio is. If so, you need to realize that in bio a lot of the time you just can't use logic to reason out answers, you NEED to just memorize them. Otherwise, drop it and take gen. bio first. that may be your issue

 

[osumc2014]

1. One D will not destroy your chance at med school.
2. One W will not destroy your chance at med school.

I'd probably prefer the W, myself, but I think the most important factor is WHY you are doing so poorly. Are you going to office hours? Availing yourself of tutoring? Talking to friends in the class about how they are preparing? etc. etc.

👍

But I'd say that one D will not destroy your chance at med school, but without one would make the whole process heck of a lot easier

 

[llabesab16]

I don't know why you are taking those as your first bio class, but honestly bio is the easiest of the sciences in my opinion, you seem to do well in your other science classes, so is it that you just don't like to memorize things? Cuz thats what most of bio is. If so, you need to realize that in bio a lot of the time you just can't use logic to reason out answers, you NEED to just memorize them. Otherwise, drop it and take gen. bio first. that may be your issue

I am taking this as my first bio because I placed out of gen bio with ap credit. Also, this bio is a requirement for my chem major.

I do find studying the material to be a lot different than studying for my chemistry or math classes, so maybe that has something to do with it. Thanks for all of the replies! I have a meeting with my premed adviser tomorrow, so hopefully he will have something to say about it too.

 

[Equality]

Withdraw. Even though you have AP credits, perhaps you should take some lower-level bio classes to freshen-up on bio-geared thinking. I have two W's but I got accepted at several schools now and nobody even asked me about the W's. I know someone else who had one C+ and was asked about it. Some schools will flat out reject you if you don't have As and Bs in the science courses (i.e. Cornell).

 

[J ROD]

Drop it!! Then, figure how what went wrong.....

 

[Rendar5]

You are a chemistry major. Drop the class and just take regular bio unless you're sure you can pull a B. Yes I know you managed to skip out due to an AP. Doesn't matter. SAve yourself the grief and take the easy sure thing general bio class.

 

[ThatQuestionGuy]

Is this Bio 118? Terrible class, gave me nightmares

 

[ilovepizza]

i took 118 last semester. it sucks but youre not going to get a D. they will curve it up more than you think. youre fine.

 

[llabesab16]

yes, it is bio 118. i hope they curve more than they said they were going to. The average on the first test was almost 82/100, which I thought was high...maybe not though. I made a 70..... the sad thing is, I thought I did decent on the test after I finished, but I got it back and all of the little points really added up, and then I just really started freaking out when i realized that was like 1/4 of my overall grade. Oh well, maybe it will turn out better than I think

 

[osumc2014]

yes, it is bio 118. i hope they curve more than they said they were going to. The average on the first test was almost 82/100, which I thought was high...maybe not though. I made a 70..... the sad thing is, I thought I did decent on the test after I finished, but I got it back and all of the little points really added up, and then I just really started freaking out when i realized that was like 1/4 of my overall grade. Oh well, maybe it will turn out better than I think

Only 1/4? I think you will be finee

 

[ThatQuestionGuy]

Tip for the final: it is HEAVILY based on the new material

 

[Wisconsinite]

I would consider taking General Biology as well. I had AP Biology and AP Chemistry transfer in from high school, and I rescinded my AP credits and had Gen Bio and Gen Chem in college. My advisor said those who have AP credits generally do not do as well in the higher science classes. It might be because what you learned in AP Biology is not the same as what they would have taught you in General Biology. Also, it could be that people forget what they learned in high school. You said you're a junior, so you're going on stuff you learned at least 3 years ago, and hopefully haven't forgot. (also, if you do rescind AP credits, it could/should mean easy A since the stuff should at least be similar to what you already had = easy GPA booster)

 

[Bbon]

yes, it is bio 118. i hope they curve more than they said they were going to. The average on the first test was almost 82/100, which I thought was high...maybe not though. I made a 70..... the sad thing is, I thought I did decent on the test after I finished, but I got it back and all of the little points really added up, and then I just really started freaking out when i realized that was like 1/4 of my overall grade. Oh well, maybe it will turn out better than I think

You might be panicking a little prematurely. For one, a 70 with an 82 average is more like a C. I remember I felt the same way after the first Bio 118 test. Actually thought I aced it and ended up scoring like right on the average. But I did well on the rest of the tests and got an A in the class. So I wouldn't completely freak out. You definitely have a chance to pull it up. Make sure you really understand the material and how to apply it, rather than just looking at the previous years' tests and understanding the answers to those questions. I think that's what screwed me up on the first test. They make the questions similar looking, but change it enough to see whether you really know what you're talking about.

 

[KTD]

I agree, 118 is a terrible class, but you will not do as poorly as you think. I would stick with it. I had some family problems at the wrong time and ended up with a 65 on the second midterm (I did decently on the other 2) and ended up with a B in the class. They are generous with the curve so if you study hard you should be okay.